Radius: Exploring ethics at the center of science and technology

Student Initiatives and Support

We support MIT students in ethical reflection, inquiry and action. As part of our mission, we offer mentoring, logistical support and financial backing to new student initiatives that will make a difference in the world. In the 1970s and 80s, Radius stood with student activists against nuclear weapons and apartheid. More recently, we joined student efforts to call for integrity in fundraising. Today, students are getting MIT engaged with increasing the visibility and representation of indigenous scientists and engineers.

Undergraduate and graduate students who are seeking professional, personal, logistical, or financial support for programs -- or who are interested in building community with peers with similar interests -- are encouraged to contact Nicholas at ncollura@mit.edu.

Student Initiatives 2022-23

In the 2022-2023 academic year, Radius partnered with the Sustainability Group of the Undergraduate Association, Divest MIT, The Graduate Program in Science Journalism, the Knight Science Journalism Fellows, the Addir Interfaith Dialogue Fellows, the Interfraternity Council, The Planetary Health Alliance, the Native American Student Association, and the American Indian Society of Engineers and Scientists. Much of our current programming is student-driven: for instance, Radius is sponsoring a 2023-2024 discussion series in collaboration with the Planetary Health Alliance and other campus partners. This collaboration was envisioned and coordinated by one of our students.

Past Student Initiatives

Science for the People

Science for the People is interested in the structure and social implications of scientific research. For instance, how has funding from the military affected the research agenda at places like MIT? Why is relatively little money allocated nationally for climate change research? Why are there such disparities - in race, gender, and socioeconomic class - in the training and promotion of scientific researchers? By asking such questions, we aim to examine science’s role as a social institution and the scientist’s as a member of society. Our goal is work towards a science that is more diverse, socially engaged, and democratic.

SftP is inspired by the original “Science for the People” (SftP), a group of scientist-activists who were active at MIT, Harvard, and around the country in the 1970s and 1980s. The problems that the original group was grappling with - war, racism, ecological catastrophe, etc.- still remain. MIT SftP is part of a broader, national effort to revitalize SftP.

MIT Students Against War

The 2018-2019 academic year saw the founding of MIT Students Against War. The organization strove to create spaces where the MIT community can explore the ethics of MIT's complex, and often troubling, relationships with the US military, nation-states with dubious human rights records, and influential mega-donors--both individuals and corporations.

End Violence

In 2009, graduate student Yoda Patta (PhD '12, Materials Science) wondered about the increasing pandemic of violence against women around the world. What might scientists and engineers in particular have to contribute to this pressing issue? From this conversation, the end violence campaign was born. This initiative has raised the awareness of gender-rooted violence among hundreds of MIT students and faculty. The end violence campaign was officially embraced by the Program in Violence Prevention and Response at MIT Medical, the initiative's new home.

International Development Programs

Fleming Ray (G '03) noticed that, although many MIT labs and programs were deeply involved in international development, they had few opportunities to connect with each other. In response, on September 20, 2002, the MIT International Development Fair was born. Over the next ten years, we worked with the Public Service Center to offer fairs and networking events to bring together students engaged in international development and introduce new students to these important efforts. Networking and student engagement are now major aspects of D-Lab, CITE and other international development programs at MIT.